Goffstown, New Hampshire

Goffstown is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 16,929 at the 2000 census. Goffstown includes the villages of Grasmere and Pinardville. The town is home to Saint Anselm College and the New Hampshire State Prison for Women.

History

The town was first granted as "Narragansett No. 4" in 1734 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts, which then held authority over New Hampshire. It was one of seven townships intended for soldiers (or their heirs) who had fought in the "Narragansett War" of 1675, also known as King Philip's War. In 1735, however, some grantees "found it so poor and barren as to be altogether incapable of making settlements," and were instead granted a tract in Greenwich, Massachusetts.

The community would be called "Piscataquog Village" and "Shovestown" before being regranted by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1748 to new settlers, including Colonel John Goffe, for whom the town was named. In 1761, Goffstown was incorporated. The village of Grasmere was named for Grasmere, England, home of poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Grasmere Village formerly was the site of the County Hospital, County Farm (penal institution) and Poorhouse; the County Farm grounds were converted to the New Hampshire State Prison for Women (located at 317 Mast Road, Goffstown). The facility's most famous resident was convicted murderess Pamela Smart, who was incarcerated at the Prison for Women from March 22, 1991 to March 11, 1993, when she was transferred to Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Bedford, New York. The Piscataquog River, which bisects the main village of Goffstown and was spanned by a covered bridge, provided water power for industry. In 1817, Goffstown had 20 sawmills, 7 grain mills, 2 clothing mills, 2 carding machines and a cotton factory. It also became the site of the Hillsborough County Farm. Islands in the Merrimack River would be annexed in 1825, as was part of New Boston in 1836.

The Uncanoonuc Mountains in Goffstown once featured the Uncanoonuc Incline Railway, founded in 1903. It first carried tourists in 1907 to the summit of the south peak, on which was built that year the Uncanoonuc Hotel. The 5 and a half storied building provided 37-38 guest rooms, and a dining room that accommodated 120. It also offered outstanding views of the surrounding valley, including Manchester, connected by electric trolley to the railway's base station. The hotel would burn in 1923, and the train was later used to transport skiers to the top. The railway peaked during the 1930s and 1940s, but was essentially abandoned by the 1950s. The old rail bed is today a hiking trail.

Historic Sites & Museums:

Goffstown Historical Society Museum

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 97.2 km² (37.5 mi²). Goffstown is drained by the Piscataquog River. The Uncanoonuc Mountains (uhn-kuh-NOO-nuhk) are twin peaks. The north peak, the highest point in Goffstown, has an elevation of 1,324 feet (404 meters) above sea level, and the south peak has an elevation of 1,321 feet (403 meters).

Government

Goffstown is governed by a five-member Board of Selectmen elected in the March general election to serve three-year staggered terms. Current members are Nick Campasano, John Caprio, Philip A. D'Avanza, Bruce F. Hunter and Barbara J. Griffin. The board meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 16,929 people, 5,641 households, and 4,055 families residing in the town. The population density was 177.2/km² (458.9/mi²). There were 5,798 housing units at an average density of 60.7/km² (157.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.20% White, 0.25% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 5,641 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,833, and the median income for a family was $61,718. Males had a median income of $39,757 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,907. About 2.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Goffstown is part of School Administrative Unit 19, serving Goffstown, Dunbarton and New Boston.

Primary & Secondary:

Goffstown has two first- through fourth-grade elementary schools, Bartlett and Maple Avenue.

Mountain View Middle School serves Goffstown students fifth- through eighth grade, and New Boston and Dunbarton students seventh- through eigth-grade. Ninth- through twelfth-grade students from Goffstown, New Boston and Dunbarton attend Goffstown High School.

Post-Secondary:

Saint Anselm College is a four-year liberal arts college, founded in 1889 by monks of the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict. Part of its campus lies in Goffstown, part in Manchester and also part in Bedford.

External links

Hillsborough County, New Hampshire | Towns in New Hampshire